Kara Lawson helped the Americans finish Group Stage play on an unbeaten note.
One day after a difficult 55-52 win over Italy at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, Germany, the United States women's basketball team earned a much more convincing 105-64 win over Czechia to conclude the Group Stage of tournament play at 3-0.
The Americans, led by former Boston Celtics assistant coach Kara Lawson, are now onto the elimination round where they are looking to capture their 12th World Cup gold medal.
The U.S. has won every Olympic gold medal since 1996 and remains one of the most dominant teams in international competition - regardless of sport.
Six different players scored in double-figures for Team USA, including Breanna Stewart, who had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Angel Reese had 13 points and six rebounds while former No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers had 10 points and five assists. Caitlin Clark had nine points and seven assists.
The Americans do not know who they'll play yet in the elimination round, as they have to wait for another round to be played before the quarterfinals begin.
The championship of this tournament is Sunday, which is unfortunate, because it's the first full NFL Sunday of the year, as well as the final of the US Open men's tennis championship. What should be a good ratings win for women's basketball will likely suffer because of the competition.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Connecticut Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards (8) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesAbout Lawson's one year in Boston
The Celtics went 48-24, playing only 72 games in total, with 64 of those coming before the COVID-19 pandemic and eight of them coming inside the "NBA Bubble."
Boston finished the season at third in the Eastern Conference, winning a first round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers and a semifinal round against the Toronto Raptors. They lost in six games to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
However, Lawson wasn't around for the playoff run.
Teams reported for the NBA Bubble in Orlando, Fla. on July 7, 2020. Lawson was announced as the head coach at Duke on July 11, meaning she left shortly after arriving.
The Heat advanced to the NBA Finals, losing to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. That marked the only championship for James in Los Angeles. He signed with the 76ers this offseason and will join former Celtics guard Jaylen Brown there. The 76ers are expected to be one of the best teams in basketball this season. They won a title since 1983.
